“When Mustafa Kemal landed in Samsun city of Anatolia on 19th May 1919, the situation of Anatolia was quite bad. People who came out wars which have been continued for long time, were tired, exhausted, and depressed. The Ottoman state was taken prisoner and Istanbul was occupied by emperialist forces. Sultan Vahideddin had no choice and was miserable.

The people who were tired from wars that have continued for long time could not taken one more war into consideration. But, when districts of Anatolia were started to occupy by westerners, and each district began to defend its property, life and honor.

Thus national forces called “Kuva-yi Milliye” was formed by Mustafa Kemal could establish an orderly army by organizing the Kuva-yi Milliye unities. Thereby, Anatolia people started straggling for their own motherland and national values one more time.”

Think about it, the world war has finished yet. Ottoman army has lost about 1,5 million soldiers, next to this figure about 200,000 troops have been captured in from Egypt to Tripoli on many fronts. There was no gun, even no food in Anatolia. While Mustafa Kemal and Kuva-i Milliye army started to Independence war with Anatolia people, they had only 3 war planes, even one of them was broken German war plane.

Under this circumstances, whole Anatolia people resisted against invader imperialist forces. According to Sevres Treaty, Anatolia has been occupied as the following map:

So, Anatolia people who had suffered great losses were struggling with the atrocities of the invader countries.

And they started a new war, their Independence War against imperialism with the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Independence War of Turkey was not easy. There are many photographs that you can see on internet about war loses of the countries, like after WW2. But there are not so many pictures about how Anatolia has been after Independence war. People can forget or don’t remember if there is no photograph. Without photograph as if the war seems not to happen. I have found these about how Anatolia was after the Independence War of Turkey. These tell how much horrible that war. Because while the occupied countries was retreating, they burned the cities and left behind them. These are the photograps which were taken in some Anatolia cities during and after Independence War of Turkey.(1919-1922)

I hope these photographs have given some clues how much struggled Anatolia people fought in their Independence War.

A country in this shape was left into the hands of the people of Anatolia by imperialists. But Anatolia people built the new republic over it with the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Today, 19th May, is celebrated as “Commemoration Ataturk and Youth and Sports Day” every year. Ataturk had said for this day, “19 May is my birthday.” Intrestingly, Ataturk’s real birth date is not known. And with the republic, 19 May had been recorded as his birthday to his identity card.

He always believed in youth. Almost every words of him address to the youth. Like his words of Nutuk, he trusted youth for county.

You can hear the words like that: “Ataturk is not popular for the Turkey people anymore.”

Don’t give the credits to these words. If there is something, this is the truth of the longing to Ataturk of Turkey people is rising in every year.

People, young or adult, go to Anıtkabir every national day. Huge crowds are gathering to memorialize and express gratitude for Ataturk in every city. They sing songs or marchs for him, the pictures or photographs are collecting and making posters, and many things are done. Like the video that I have shared at first line of this post. The lyric of that song: “I have never known anyone more special than you. I have never seen anyone more beautiful than you.” Like this song and video, if you write on youtube,”Ataturk cocukları” or “Izmir Marsı” (there are more but these two enough I guess) you can see that especially the young people’s longing and love to Ataturk.

This attitude of Turkey people, could seem weird for the rest of the world. They can ask: “Why the people are still keeping Ataturk in their hearts and minds almost 100 years later?”

Nobody forces Turkey Republic people to keep Ataturk in their hearts or mind. This is made without any pressure and made sincerely. Even more and more with everyday, the commitment to Ataturk is rising. (like Newton’s Third Law of Motion)

And the anwser of the question of “Why the people still keep Ataturk in their hearts and minds almost 100 years later?”: “Are you able to forget the person who gave you freedom and your honor back?”

I know this was a question-answer but it is still answer you know.;)

And happy May 19th, to the youth and to the ones who always feel and think like young!

“I’ve landed on Samsun on the May 19th day of 1919. General situation and outlook: The allies of the Ottoman Empire defeated in Great War, each side of the Ottoman army was damaged, with the heavy conditions “Armistice Agreement” was signed. Over many years of Great War, nation has been tired and poor condition. Who dragged the nation into Great War, they fallen into the concerns of their benefit and they have fled from the country. Vahdettin who is sultan and caliph had been corrupt, he has been seeking for himself and nefarious ways that for only throne could be maintained. Istanbul government of Damat Ferid Pasha headed was weak, dishonorable, cowardly, only they complied with the sultan’s request and buckled under any condition that would protect themselves with him.

The weapons and ammunition were taken from the hands of army and still are being taken.

Entente states, they don’t consider it neccessary to abide by the decisions of Armistice Agreement. With the falsification reasons, the navies and troops of Entente States are in Istanbul. French had entered the city of Adana, British had entered the cities of Urfa, Maras, Antep. Italian troops in Konya and Antalya, British soldiers in Merzifon and Samsun. Officers and special agents of foreign states are working on each side. Then, for days before we recieved our initial promise, 15 May, 1919, with the approval of Entente States Greeks Army is landed on Izmir.

Furthermore, the Christian minorities in the entire country are trying to crash of the state to obtain the hidden, open, specific needs and objectives a moment ago.

The nation which wasn’t aware that they remained without leader, is waiting to the things to come into the darkness and uncertainty. Those who begun to understand the disaster and weight of the horror, they make every effort that they accepted as the remedy of liberation within the framework of their strenght which is effected by the events and environment.

The nation and the army as well as they are unaware of the treason of the sultan and the caliphate, they connect internally to the authorities who has got these titles with the ties of religion and tradition which have been ingrained for centruies and they are docile… They are not able to grasp the meaning of liberation without sultan and caliph. Those who will reveal their thoughts and views which are incompatible with the nation beliefs, unfortunatelly they would be irreligious, stateless, unwelcome…

In fact, at those days we were in, the foundations of Ottoman Empire had collapsed and its existence had ended. The Ottoman Empire was disintegrated completely. In the middle, there was only an ancestor homeland where a handful Turks lived. At last, the colonialists were trying to ensure for sharing of these lands. Ottoman Empire and it’s independence, sultan, caliph, Istanbul government; all of these were the meaningless words and out of concept. What kind of help is thought to ask from whom for who’s immunity and what? In that case, what could be solid and real decision? Gentlemen, there was only one decision in front of this situation. This is to establish a new independent Turkish State which is based on national sovereignty as unconditional.

Here, it has been decision which we thought before leaving Istanbul and we started to implement no sooner than we did set foot in Samsun, Anatolia.

The logic and steady thought which were based on this decision: The basic principle is that the Turkish nation needs to live as dignified and honorable nation. This can only be achieved with completely independence. No matter how rich and prosperous, a nation which is devoid of independence, can not save itself from being servant in front of civilized humanity. To ask the protection of foreign state is nothing else to reveal the deprivation of human nature, weakness and incompetence. It can be never considered that those who didn’t fall into this inferiority situation will bring the foreign management willingly. However, Turk’s honor and capabilities is very high. Such a nation, rather than live as prisoners, its destroying is much better. If so, Independence or Death! That will be the watchword for those who want the real salvation. For a moment, let’s assume that has experienced the failure about the implementation of this decision. What would happen? Captivity. Well, will not the same result emerge with abiding by the other decisions?

With this difference; a nation which has risked own life for independence is divert itself with thinking that it has made the every sacrifice which should be for human dignity and honor. And of course, if they are compared with disgrace nation which wears the captivity chain to own neck by own hand, they will be in an another place at the eyes of friends and enemies. Then, trying to maintain of Ottoman State and it’s descendants is to make biggest evilness against the Turkish nation. How a lot of insane people(*) who hadn’t conscience and thought connect anymore with public and country can be seen appropriate for the protection of honor and independence of the public and country?

I want to say my last words particulary to the youth of our country.

The young ones!

You are the ones who increase our courage and continue. You will be the most valuable example of the idea of freedom, human virtue, loving of country and people with the decency and wisdom that you took in.

The rising new generation! The future is yours. We have established Republic. You are the ones who will keep it alive and make it valuable.”

/

(*)Ataturk mentions about Sultans and Istanbul government, while he is saying a lot of insane people

These are Ataturk’s words from Nutuk (about 620 pages). Today the anniversary of May 19, 1919. This day is the day a public awakening. This day is anniversary day in Turkey every year, as Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.

The Nutuk (Modern Turkish: Söylev; Speech) was a speech delivered by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk from 15 to 20 October 1927, at the second congress of Republican People’s Party. The speech covered the events between the start of the Turkish War of Independence on May 19, 1919, and the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, in 1923. It is an important source for the study of Kemalism. It took thirty-six hours (on a 6 day span) to be read by Atatürk. Scholars have since identified the Speech as the foundation and model followed by Turkish historians for the official historiography of the Turkish Republic.

this is quoted from wikipedia

I’ve tried best I can as always for the translation. I never find the translations about Turkish historians researches or the translation such as Nutuk or Independence War of Turkey. Turks are very lazy about this subject. Turks do not make enough effort about telling themselves to the world public. Turks are closed society. And they expect to be understood by world public without telling them truths. That’s why, many wrong informations in the middle. And of course, I wished I could make copy and paste, it would be very easy for me 🙂 If there is more better translation of this text of Ataturk you can make comment and thus, I can correct my wrongs.